Sound-reproducer.



A. N. PIERMAN.

SOUND REPRODUOER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.20,1 909'.

940,051 Patented Nov. 16; 1909.

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my: izfi iziw f 19,-1907' {for phonic apparatus, and $671,597,

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crops-1i My invention relates to sound reproducers 1020f the type -.Wherein the rate of flow of elas-'- tic fluid through-theports of'a-valve s'itu atedbetween chambers -in--a--soundbox is varied in accordance-with the=movements of the reproducing stylus trackinga-sound 1'5rrecordpwhereby-the current of the fluid is thrown into vibrations-;correspondi-ng" in- .form to those which were originally caused by the production of sound in the-formation of the originalrecord, butwhich are of .20 greater amplitude than the original vibra-' v .tions causinganamplified-reproduetionofthe said sounds- The object of-iny invention is toprovide adevice'of this characterin which-an even greater amplification of the sounds inthe reproduction thereofis attained by the comf vanyingthe rate-of fiowmf-the elastic fluid v through the valv'e, of? co aeting frictionmeans and lever meansr c In; my Patent 'No. 8913,36? ,1 granted une "ducersgI have disclosed'anTapiia-ratuswhere-- inxthe -principle-=of-=the :variation'ofra-te of-flow:-of air or other elastic fluid. through the ports of' a valveis-made use ojfgtoamplifyfthe reproduced sounds. Al'so',' 1n-=-my atents :"N 0's 829,123, ganted 'August 21,

1906, forfrictional repro I ucing attachments for phonographs, 847,686; granted March;

granted October-8, 1907 for friction{reproduoing attachment for phonognatphs,- I "have disclosedvarious apparatus-- 0 the type whe'rein'a rotating friction wheel is use 1n combination with a friction shoebplaoed against the sam'e,-the pressure'betwe'en the fiiict'i'orr shoe :and the friction wheel being varied by jsu-itable' means representative-of 5 =sound vibrations; thus producing variations theamount of friction, which by suitable mechanical connections may operate a dine phlegm-6r other phonic apparatus:-

. Irimy present invention,- t e variations in the amountof friction between theco-acting Specification of Letters latent; Appiicotion flledjtiarch 20,1909. Seria1'No;484s,789.

' friction members are causedin the county of Essex Improvement in Sound- 3,-constituting the valve seat brought into contact" of-thefring 3,'Whereby-the sound box 1, the

the cylindrical mem "her i are'rrigidly secured together. The" mation'with the abovezdescribed means-for threaded in the Patented Nov. 16, ions;

by suitable means: to regulate the amount of opening of the valve seated "on a port or a series of ports through which a steady current of air or other elastic fluid is progressed, whereby the reproduction ofsound With considerable amplification is attained.

Attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawing embodying a preferred form of my. invention and consisting in a diagrammatic side elevation of the device partly inseetiom p Referring to the drawing, 1" represents a soundbox provided with the threaded depending annuldsQ. In this the circularplate and formed on its periphery with screw thread, is secured.

-The cylinder 4 carrying screw thread on the upper portion ofits eriphery is screwed Within-the ring 2, so t at" its upper edge is with the lower surface valve seat; ring 3 and cylihder i is formed. at its lower end with the depending a'nnularflange 5, which is screwthreadedon its bore. The circular platefi is. placed imposition under the shoulder",7,fcrmed by the meeting of the. flange 5*with the-body portion of the cylinder 4, and isrigidly secured; in such ring *8; which'is-threaded within the flan e 5&to secure the plate 6in against 'the "shoulder 7." constitutes a" closure,

positlon by the position rigid y The plate 6 thus --whereb apressure chamberQ is formed, the soun box 1 form- .ingfa eSonating chamber -10 of less dimensionsth'an the --press ure chamber- 9 and-'sepa rated-j-therefrom' by the -valve seat 3 and valve-to be*described.-- Air or other elastic fluid-is conducted to the pressure chamber 9 by meansa.*of='the connection 11, which is thteaddmr otherwise secured within the wall of the chamber; -9to form an opening isfseated upon the ports formed in the '-pl' ate-3 in any vsuitable nmnnen; As shown in -thedrawing, valve12 is -mounted to have 'e valve also, when 'iri its-closed position, resting u on the edges of the-ports l l l t. The bolls 15 is plate *3 {and projects throu h ae-verti'cal openmg in the valve 12. T e bolt 15 is provided with a head 16 againstwhich'rests the flat spring--17, the two ends the a ivotal m'ovei of which bear upon the top valve plate 12,

the pressure ofsaid spring therebybeing exvalve plate 12 upon;

erted to maintain the its seat. I

The friction wheel indicated diagrammatically at 18 is mounted upon the spindle 19 and is adapted to be constantly rotated by any suitable means not here. shown. Suitable means for causing this rotation are described in several of my patents above referred to. Brake shoe 2O partly surrounds friction Wheel 19 and is connected at one end plate.

thereof by link 21 with the valve plate 12.

This link 21 passes through a suitable opening in closure 6 and the link is conveniently secured to the valve plate 12 by passing the link through a central vertical recess in the valve plate, upsetting the end of the link 21 above the valve plate, or forming a ball thereon of suficient size to prevent the same passing through the passageway in the This connection between the brake shoe and the valve late is sufficient, since the pressure of the uid entering chamber9 through pipe 11 tends to hold the valve in its open position at all times, it therefore being only necessary forthe friction element 20 to draw the valve toward its seat in accordance with the variations of. pressure between the friction elements 18 and 20.

The floating weight of the reproducer is indicated at 22, and from this depend lugs 23 in which is. mounted the horizontal stud 24, which forms the axis on which stylus lever 25 bearing st us 26 is .pivotally mounted. Stylus lever 25 is connected as by link 27 with one end of the brake shoe 20.

Link 27 passes through the vertical recess 28 in .the floating weight. Brake shoe 20 is mounted on pin 29 and a fiat spring 30 secured at 31 to some stationary partof. the structure bears on a 32 situated on the shorter arm 33 of the brake shoe to maintain the shoe with a-certain amount of pres-' sure in contact with -the rotating wheel 18. Vertical movement given stylus 26 in tracking the record groove is transmitted with amplification by stylus lever 25 to the arm 33 of brake shoe 20, since the arm of lever 25 to the left of the pivot- 24:, as shown by the valve 12, pressure of elastic fluid on the lower side of valve 12 always holding valve in the position of greatest opening of the ports allowed by the link 21. The

column of airor other elastic fluid in resohating chamber 10 is thereby thrown into vibrations corresponding to those which originally caused the formation of the sound groove on the record tracked by stylus 26, these vibrations, however, being greatly amplified, and causing the reproduction of the record with great amplification.

It is, of course, obvious that various changes can be made in the construction of the apparatus shown without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, it

is not essential that friction members of the type specified be used, nor is it essential that the design of the valve and ports indicated be followed. Instead of using air under pressure in the chamber 9, the use'of a vacuum might be substituted and the relative proportions of the chambers 9 and 10 interchanged.- I

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

'. 1.,In a phonograph, the combination with stylus'lever and reproducer stylus carried thereby, and means supporting said lever so that-the stylus may track the record, of frictional means for amplifying the movement of said stylus, means for varying the flow of a fluid under pressure through an orifice, and means for transmitting the amplified movements caused by said frictional means to said varying means, substantially as described. i

2. In a phonograph, the combination with a reproducer stylus mounted to track the record, of an air reproducer and frictional and lever connections between said stylus and the movable member of said air reproducer, for imparting to said movable member amplified movements corresponding to the movements of said stylus, and causing the air passing said movable member to be thrown into vibrations, corresponding to the movements of said movable member, "but stillb fairther amplified, substantially asde- 501'} e 3. In a phonograph, the combination with a sound box having two chambers, a valve plate between said chambers and a valve coacting therewith, of means for conducting a steady current of air or gas to one of said chambers, a rotating frictional member, a brake shoe co-acting therewith, connections from said shoe tosaid valve, a reproducer stylus, and connections from said stylus to said brake shoe, substantially as described.

4. In a phonograph, the combination with a sound box having chambers closed at one end, a valve seat and co-acting valve at the other end, means for conducting air or gas under pressure to said chamber, and a chamber on the other side of said valve connected to an outlet, of co-acting frictional members, a reproducer stylus, connections from her to said valve as causes said valve to move toward its seat, the pressure; of air tending to move it from its seat, substantially as described.

5. In a phonograph, the combination with a sound box having chambers "closed at one end, a valve seatand co-acting valve at the other end, means for conducting air or gas under pressure tosaid chamber, and a cham-- bar on the other side of'said valve connected to an outlet, ofa rotating frictional member and a co-acting frictlonal member, an apertured floating weight, a stylus lever mounted on said'weight, a connection from .said lever to said co-actmg frictional mem:

ber extending through said aperture, a one way connectlon' from said co-acting mem-' her to said valve to move the latter inopposition to the .air pressure, and additlonal means steadily but resiliently acting to hold the valve on its seat, su'bstantiallyxas described.

' This specification signed and witnessed this 17 day of March 1909. ALEXANDER N.. HE MAN.

Witnesses 4 DYER SMITH,

FRANKjD. 'Lnwrs. 

